Did you know that 93% of online experiences start with a search engine? That’s right, whether someone is looking for a new pair of shoes or the best local dentist, it all begins with Google or Bing.
If your business isn’t visible in the top search results when someone is looking for your product or service, you could be missing out on a massive amount of potential customers.
It’s because 95% of the people who search on Google only visit those websites that are ranking on page one results. They don’t go to 2nd or 3rd page unless they are looking for a specific website.
Hence, outsourcing SEO might just be the key to bringing internet users to your website and turning them into your customers.
But how do you go about it? And how do you ensure it’s done effectively? Let’s explore how to outsource SEO easily and successfully.
Table of contents
- Why Outsource SEO?
- How to Outsource SEO Effectively
- Common Mistakes to Avoid When Outsourcing SEO
- In Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Outsource SEO?
Outsourcing SEO can seem like a daunting leap, especially if you’re used to handling marketing in-house. But there are good reasons to consider this approach. Let’s break down why outsourcing SEO could be a smart move for your business.
1. Access to Expertise
SEO is a complex and ever-evolving field. Google frequently (every 3 months) updates their algorithms, which can make it tough for an in-house team to keep pace.
By outsourcing, you tap into a team of specialists who are dedicated to staying current with these changes.
Our SEO professionals also think that staying updated with search engine changes is crucial for success.
If you consult a SEO company, their expertise ensures that your website remains optimised according to the latest standards and best practices— which is essential for maintaining and improving your search rankings.
2. Cost-Effective
Building and maintaining an in-house SEO team can be quite costly. From salaries and benefits to ongoing training and software, the expenses can quickly pile up.
Outsourcing offers a more budget-friendly alternative. You gain access to high-quality SEO services without a substantial financial burden. A survey by Clutch found that 27% of small businesses want to outsource marketing. The possible reason could be cost saving of course. With outsourcing, you can invest in the services you need without the additional overhead associated with an internal team.
3. Focus on Core Business
Managing SEO is a time-intensive task that requires significant effort and focus. Handling it in-house can divert attention from your core business operations.
But when you outsource search engine optimisation, you free up your team to concentrate on what they do best, whether it’s product development, customer service or sales. This shift in focus can lead to enhanced productivity and efficiency in your primary business activities, allowing you to drive growth and innovation.
How to Outsource SEO Effectively
Outsourcing SEO is not just about selecting a provider and crossing your fingers. It involves a strategic approach to ensure you receive optimal results. Follow this process to outsource digital marketing services effectively.
1. Decide What You Want to Specifically Achieve with SEO
Before you even start looking for an SEO provider, it’s essential to define what you hope to achieve. If you yourself don’t know your goals, how will an SEO service provider implement the right strategy for you?
Ask these questions to gain some clarity about your SEO goals. Are you aiming to increase website traffic, improve search engine rankings or generate more leads?
Once you are sure of yourself, you can communicate your needs effectively to your partner SEO company. Additionally, well-defined goals will allow you to evaluate their proposals and measure the success of their efforts accurately.
2. Research Potential SEO Partners
Finding the right SEO provider requires thorough research. Not all agencies are the same and the right choice can make a significant difference.
Look for agencies with a solid track record and positive reviews. Moreover, see if they have projects in the same industry as yours.
Examine their case studies and client testimonials to get a sense of their capabilities and successes.
A report by HubSpot highlights that converting leads with content is the top challenge for 24% of marketers.
This shows how important it is to select a provider with proven expertise in overcoming these challenges.
Also Read: How to Choose an SEO Agency?
3. Evaluate Their Approach
Different SEO agencies have different methodologies. Some may prioritise technical SEO, while others might focus on content marketing or link building.
There are also some agencies who do comprehensive research on your industry, take time to understand your audience and your goals and then decide on an SEO strategy.
So find an agency that creates a custom strategy for you and not just copy strategies. You can ask questions about how they will decide on a strategy during your initial meeting to see if they are a right fit for you.
A reputable agency should be transparent about their strategies and explain how they plan to help you achieve your objectives.
This clarity will help you understand their methods and how they will impact your business.
4. Communication and Reporting
You might have noticed for your business also that many things can be solved with just communication. So communicate all your concerns to your SEO company. Similarly, see if they are communicating well with you.
Before agreeing for the services, ask them if they will provide regular updates and reports on how your website is doing.
This transparency will help you stay informed about progress and see if their strategy is working. But please don’t make assumptions after seeing the report.
Most strategies show results after a significant time.
If such doubts occur, politely ask your SEO partner and they will tell you when exactly can you
5. Always Make Sure They Follow Ethical Practices
It’s highly possible that some agencies may use black-hat techniques to achieve quick results. But it can harm your website’s reputation in the long run.
If your SEO agency promises super quick results—Run♂️
You will see results in the short term but with unethical black hat SEO techniques that can have severe consequences for you.
Of course, no agency will say they use black hat SEO. To check if your SEO agency is genuine just see their client portfolio and check their customer testimonial.
It will pretty much tell if your potential SEO company is good.
6. Set Clear Expectations
To avoid misunderstandings later on, clearly define your expectations for SEO and ask your agency to clarify your scope of work.
Clarify the pricing structure and ask all the questions related to the same before the company takes up your project.
Check if their contract has a clearly defined scope of work, deliverables and timelines. It’s necessary to be on the same page from the beginning as it helps both parties stay aligned and focused on achieving your business goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Outsourcing SEO
While outsourcing SEO can transform your digital marketing efforts, it’s not without potential pitfalls. These mistakes can hinder your progress or even lead to negative outcomes.
But by recognising and avoiding them, you’ll be set up for success. Let’s dive deeper into these common errors and how to steer clear of them:
1. Choosing Based on Price Alone
It’s tempting to select an SEO provider based solely on their price, especially if you’re operating on a tight budget. However, SEO is an investment that directly affects your online visibility, brand authority and ultimately, your revenue.
Going for the cheapest option may seem like a good way to save money in the short term, but it can backfire.
Many low-cost providers cut corners, using black-hat SEO techniques like keyword stuffing or buying backlinks which can harm your website’s ranking and reputation.
Google actively penalises such practices and recovering from a penalty can take months if not years.
Instead of making price your sole deciding factor, focus on value.
Ask yourself—Does this provider have a proven track record of success? Do they offer transparent reporting? Are they clear about the tools and strategies they use? It’s often better to pay a little more for a provider that offers high-quality services that align with your long-term business goals.
Remember, effective SEO requires continuous effort and adaptation, so view it as an ongoing investment in your business’s future growth.
The right provider will deliver sustained improvements in traffic, user experience and lead generation, making the initial cost well worth it.
Also Read: Cheap SEO vs. Good SEO
2. Neglecting Ongoing Efforts
Many businesses mistakenly believe that SEO is a one-time fix.
They think that once they’ve optimised their site or improved their rankings, the job is done. But SEO is a dynamic process and search engines are constantly evolving.
If you think that once your website starts ranking you will end your contract to save costs — its not going to work.
It’s essential to maintain an ongoing partnership with your SEO provider. This means ensuring that your SEO strategy is regularly updated to reflect algorithm changes, market trends and new business goals.
Continuous optimisation includes activities like refreshing content, acquiring new backlinks and monitoring competitors. Without these ongoing efforts, you risk losing your competitive edge.
A long-term SEO strategy allows you to maintain and build upon the results you’ve achieved, ensuring your site continues to attract qualified traffic and generate leads over time.
3. Ignoring Communication
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is failing to communicate your goals, feedback and concerns clearly.
A lack of communication often leads to misaligned expectations and unsatisfactory results. For instance, if your SEO provider is unaware of a new product launch, they may miss the opportunity to optimise your site for relevant keywords or create promotional content around it.
As we said earlier—-effective communication is a two-way street. So ask your provider to provide regular updates with detailed reports or meetings. These reports should highlight key metrics like organic traffic growth, changes in search rankings and keyword performance.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request clarification on any technical aspects you don’t understand. Open communication ensures transparency and helps you stay informed about how your SEO strategy is impacting your business.
Moreover, you should be open to their suggestions and let them know all your concerns. If the agency doesn’t know about your problem— How will they solve it?
Conclusion
Outsourcing SEO can be a strategic move that offers numerous benefits like access to expert teams and cost savings. On top of that— you can just focus on running your business and not juggle between multiple things.
If you’re considering outsourcing SEO but don’t know where to start, our digital marketing agency is here to help.
You can check out our portfolio and previous work. Plus our own page is ranking on Google. So you can be assured that your brand’s SEO is in good hands.
Reach out to us at hello@florafountain.com to see your website ranking on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
The founder and partner of Flora Fountain, Shefali leads the Content and Technology divisions. A one-time engineer who started her career writing front-end code, she took a detour sometime during her 9 years in New York, studied journalism and started writing prose, poetry and sometimes jokes. She now has 15...